Our People

During 20+ years of operating in politically charged environments, Janice’s career has traversed private, public, and non-for-profit businesses and organisations with complex structures, extensive scrutiny, and regular reform. With extensive lived experience in strategy development, change management, negotiation, coaching, and leadership; empowering others and making a difference is at the heart of all she does.

Janice is a strong advocate for membership organisations and primary care in the widest sense, and the important role both play in making a difference to the quality-of-life people experience across the UK. Having joined LOCSU following 13 years dedicated to general practice, Janice maintains her interest in wider primary care and utilises her mentoring and guidance skills in supporting Plexus Support Services Ltd as their Chair.

Continuing with her passion for helping others, beyond the working day, Janice is also an accredited mediator. Though she loves travelling her roots remain in her hometown of Darlington. Sport has always been a passion, partaking and supporting, so working on the London 2012 Olympics was a career highlight. Never one to rest on her laurels, Janice continually seeks opportunities for personal and professional improvement.

Contact: jfoster@locsu.co.uk

This includes the innovative urgent eye care service CUES, developed in response to the pandemic, and the Optometry First framework, a comprehensive optometry service designed to support eye care recovery and continue to manage growing demand in a sustainable way.

With 25 years’ experience in independent practice she believes primary care optometry has more to offer than sight testing and opportunistic case-finding.

She has previously worked as a Local Eye Health Network Chair and NHS Optometric Adviser promoting the role of Optometry locally.

She joined LOCSU in 2011 to pursue her interest in service pathway development, and is leading a programme of work to continue to develop the Clinical Service Pathways Framework, extending the range of eye conditions which can be managed in optometric practice.

Most recently, Zoe provided clinical leadership for pathway improvement within NHS England’s National Eye Care Recovery and Transformation programme.

Through her role as clinical director for LOCSU, Zoe provides clinical leadership to a team of advancement leads supporting the 74 Local Optical Committees within England.

Recently re-elected Vice-chair of the Clinical Council for Eye Health Commissioning, Zoe works with eye health leaders to support the national agenda to improve eye health and eye care provision across England.

Contact: zrichmond@locsu.co.uk

Andy’s background is varied, having served in the Royal Air Force for 22 years in Air Traffic Control and Military Air Operations. He saw service around the world, including Gibraltar, where he lived for three years, and in the Middle East involved in both Gulf wars. 

After a period working for the UK Met Office, he entered healthcare firstly via NHS General Practice before entering Hospital Operational Management. His passion for quality, change, and improvement saw him join NHS England as part of the COVID recovery effort which also involved greater utilisation of digital platforms to facilitate transformation and pathway change. A passion for change is now driving his support of LOCs to improve eye care locally and nationally. 

He is passionate about all things sports, specifically cricket, golf and rugby. His passion for rugby led him to be the manager of the USA Under 20 Rugby Team at a World Cup, a World Trophy and no fewer than 20 internationals against 16 different countries and several tours in South America, Europe, and Africa. 

Contact: abyrne@locsu.co.uk

He is a committee member of Manchester LOC, and recently completed the Leadership Skills for Optical Professionals postgraduate module. Mohammed has a keen interest in the role of emerging digital technology to improve patient care in primary care optometry.

Contact: mbhuta@locsu.co.uk

He is passionate about Low Vision and the pivotal role of Dispensing Opticians in delivering exceptional patient care.

Sid is an active member of the Gloucestershire LOC, where he leads communication efforts and co-organises events and CPD programs for the county.

Throughout his career, Sid has held various leadership and management positions across multiple-practice settings, domiciliary services and has in depth knowledge of high-end boutique practices, brands and supplier networks.

Outside of his professional life, Sid is multilingual and enjoys music and exploring different cultures through travel.

Contact: smaher@locsu.co.uk

Danielle sits as a registrant member on the General Optical Council’s Fitness to Practise Committee and also serves as the vice-chair of the North Central London Local Optical Committee.

Contact: dellis@locsu.co.uk

He is motivated by helping patients achieve the best possible vision and finds problem-solving for patients with higher, more complex prescriptions especially satisfying.

Steve previously ran his own IT business and continues to provide IT support to the practice. It was while he was attending a LOC meeting as an IT specialist that he grew interested in the work of LOCs and the difference they make, and decided to get involved. He is Vice Chair of Hertfordshire LOC, having been a committee member for over 5 years, where he also looks after their communications and website.

Steve is a proud recent graduate of the LOCSU/Cardiff University Leadership Course and puts the skills he learned into practice in his role as Advancement Lead.

When he’s not supporting patients and LOCs, Steve can be found enjoying long walks and bike rides in the beautiful Lee Valley country park. He’s also regularly in demand as IT support for family and friends.

Fionnuala has a keen interest in training and development. She enjoys working with pre-regs and newly qualified practitioners and encouraging them to get involved with their LOC. She’s currently a member of Cheshire LOC and says she’s an ardent supporter of all aspects of shared care.

Contact: fkidd@locsu.co.uk

Simone is a dispensing optician with more than 25 years’ experience and a member of Solihull LOC where she is a co-opted vice-secretary. She has gained the WOPEC post graduate certificate in eyecare governance.

Simone is also ABDO local lead for the Midlands and is an advocate for dispensing opticians to be part of LOCs.

Contact: smason@locsu.co.uk

Louise has commercial acumen through a past life in sales and her most recent role as Director of Membership & Engagement at the Chartered Institute of Logistics (UK).

Louise has 20 years’ experience of the health sector. When working for the British Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP), she led a project to help members engage with the 2012 NHS reforms to commissioning. Between 2015 and early 2022, Louise worked at the GMC (General Medical Council) and NMC (Nursing Midwifery Council), engaging with NHS stakeholders at a regional, local and trust-level to help support safe and ethical care.

In 2018/19 Louise managed the GMC ‘Professional Behaviours and Patient Safety’ project which took an evidence-based approach to culture change from Vanderbilt University, USA and re-imagined it for the UK context. Louise is currently contracted as a GMC Associate, delivering learning sessions on professional standards.

Louise has a BA Hons English and Masters in Public Health. In May 2023 she became an elected Councillor. Outside of work and Civic duties, Louise enjoys the outdoors and open road, touring in a VW Campervan with her husband at every opportunity.

Contact: lrobinson@locsu.co.uk

Graduating in 2016 with a degree in journalism, Chessie has developed a broad range of expertise across the communications and marketing mix, including digital communications for social media, working with the media and graphic design. She has undertaken several communication roles within healthcare, including working in large acute hospitals and leading recruitment marketing campaigns across the south west region. She is passionate about the importance of creating clear, compelling communications to support healthcare campaigns and achieve measurable results.

Chessie enjoys walking on the moors and coast of the beautiful Devon countryside with her young dog Toby and fiancé James. When she isn’t out in the fresh air or spending time with friends, you’ll find her planning her next trip away.

Contact: fhobbs@locsu.co.uk

Prior to joining the LOCSU team, Trisha spent the previous two years at North Yorkshire Council and has worked in several administration roles over the years. This includes The Permanent Mission of Indonesia to the United Nations, the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland, and Thyssenkrupp AG in North Yorkshire.

After living in Switzerland for 20 years, Trisha and her husband moved to the UK with their daughter to be closer to her husband’s family in North Yorkshire. To relax, Trisha enjoys “exercising, reading autobiographies/biographies and watching documentaries, but I’m also a big fan of Marvel. I also love discovering new food places with my soon to be 13-year-old daughter. We enjoy our walks with our 3-year-old Beagle in ‘God’s own country’.”

Contact: tdinsdale@locsu.co.uk

Prior to this, she has worked for a range of not-for-profit organisations under many guises including grant administration, event management and business support.

Contact: lstonham@locsu.co.uk